RF integrated circuit with transmitter and multipurpose output ports and methods for use therewith

ABSTRACT

An RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC port for coupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency band to at least one external device and a second IC port for coupling a second transmit signal in a second frequency band to the at least one external device. A transmitter module responds to outbound data to generate the first transmit signal in a first mode of operation and to generate the second transmit signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the transmitter module generates the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal in a selected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats based on a control signal, and wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formats includes a GSM format and at least one non-GSM format.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to U.S. Utility Application Ser. No.12/118,853, entitled “RF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH TRANSMITTER ANDMULTIPURPOSE OUTPUT PORTS AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH,” (AttorneyDocket No. BP6815), filed May 12, 2008, pending; the contents of whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and made part of thepresent U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to mobile communication devices andmore particularly to a circuit for transmitters implemented via RFintegrated circuits.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linecommunications between wireless and/or wire line communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, andhence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wirelesscommunication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio,personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader, RFID tag, et ceteracommunicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communicationdevices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-pointcommunications), the participating wireless communication devices tunetheir receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g.,one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wirelesscommunication system or a particular RF frequency for some systems) andcommunicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications,each wireless communication device communicates directly with anassociated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or anassociated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wirelessnetwork) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connectionbetween the wireless communication devices, the associated base stationsand/or associated access points communicate with each other directly,via a system controller, via the public switch telephone network, viathe Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.

For each wireless communication device to participate in wirelesscommunications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiverand transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g.,a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communicationnetworks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the transmitter includes a datamodulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a poweramplifier. The data modulation stage converts raw data into basebandsignals in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard.The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signalswith one or more local oscillations to produce RF signals. The poweramplifier amplifies the RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.

As is also known, the receiver is coupled to the antenna through anantenna interface and includes a low noise amplifier, one or moreintermediate frequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recoverystage. The low noise amplifier (LNA) receives inbound RF signals via theantenna and amplifies then. The one or more intermediate frequencystages mix the amplified RF signals with one or more local oscillationsto convert the amplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediatefrequency (IF) signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signalsor the IF signals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to producefiltered signals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from thefiltered signals in accordance with the particular wirelesscommunication standard.

RF transmitters can generate polar coordinate transmissions that aresimultaneously amplitude modulated and phase modulated to carry moredata over a single transmitted signal. The modulation can be performedin two phases with phase modulation occurring first in a phase lockedloop and amplitude modulation being induced on the phase modulatedsignal by the power amplifier.

Wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with differentstandards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), localmulti-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-pointdistribution systems (MMDS), radio frequency identification (RFID),and/or variations thereof. The construction of multi-format devices canbe a challenge to designers that wish to simplify their designs and makethem more efficient. Further limitations and disadvantages ofconventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with thepresent invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theDrawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RFtransceiver in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an RFtransceiver in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an RFtransceiver in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RFtransmitter in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a mixer modulein accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance withthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationsystem in accordance with the present invention. In particular acommunication system is shown that includes a communication device 10that communicates real-time data 24 and non-real-time data 26 wirelesslywith one or more other devices such as base station 18, non-real-timedevice 20, real-time device 22, and non-real-time and/or real-timedevice 30. In addition, communication device 10 can also optionallycommunicate over a wireline connection with non-real-time device 12,real-time device 14 and non-real-time and/or real-time device 16.

In an embodiment of the present invention the wireline connection 28 canbe a wired connection that operates in accordance with one or morestandard protocols, such as a universal serial bus (USB), Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 488, IEEE 1394 (Firewire),Ethernet, small computer system interface (SCSI), serial or paralleladvanced technology attachment (SATA or PATA), personal computer memorycard international association (PCMCIA) or other wired communicationprotocol, either standard or proprietary.

The wireless connection can communicate in accordance with a wirelessnetwork protocol such as IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband (UWB),WIMAX, or other wireless network protocol, a wireless telephonydata/voice protocol such as Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates forGlobal Evolution (EDGE), Personal Communication Services (PCS), or acode division multiple access (CDMA) protocol such as wideband CDMA(WCDMA) other wireless telephony protocol or other wirelesscommunication protocol, either standard or proprietary. In particular,communication device 10 is capable of communicating over two or moredifferent frequency bands such as the 750, 850, 900, 1800 or 1900 MHzbands or other frequency bands. For instance, communication device 10can communicate via a 900 MHz band with base station 18 and/ornon-real-time and/or real-time device 30 and communicate via a 1800 MHzband with non-real-time device 20 and/or real-time device 22. Further,the wireless communication path can include separate transmit andreceive paths that use separate carrier frequencies and/or separatefrequency channels. Alternatively, a single frequency or frequencychannel can be used to bi-directionally communicate data to and from thecommunication device 10.

Communication device 10 can be a mobile phone such as a cellulartelephone, a PC data card that communicates over a wireless telephonynetwork, a personal digital assistant, game console, personal computer,laptop computer, or other device that performs one or more functionsthat include communication of voice and/or data via the wirelesscommunication path. In an embodiment of the present invention, thereal-time and non-real-time devices 12, 14 16, 18, 20, 22, and 30 can bebase stations, access points, or other communication devices such aspersonal computers, laptops, PDAs, mobile phones, cellular telephones,devices equipped with wireless local area network or Bluetoothtransceivers, FM tuners, TV tuners, digital cameras, digital camcorders,or other devices that either produce, process or use audio, videosignals or other data or communications.

In operation, the communication device includes one or more applicationsthat include voice communications such as standard telephonyapplications, voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications, localgaming, Internet gaming, email, instant messaging, multimedia messaging,web browsing, audio/video recording, audio/video playback, audio/videodownloading, playing of streaming audio/video, office applications suchas databases, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation creation andprocessing and other voice and data applications. In conjunction withthese applications, the real-time data 26 includes voice, audio, videoand multimedia applications including Internet gaming, etc. Thenon-real-time data 24 includes text messaging, email, web browsing, fileuploading and downloading, etc.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device 10includes an integrated circuit, such as an RF integrated circuit thatincludes one or more features or functions of the present invention.Such integrated circuits shall be described in greater detail inassociation with FIGS. 2-8 that follow.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an integratedcircuit in accordance with the present invention. A voice and data RFintegrated circuit (IC) 70 is shown that implements mobile communicationdevice 35, such as an embodiment of communication device 10, inconjunction with microphone 60, keypad/keyboard 58, memory 54, speaker62, display 56, camera 76, antenna interface 52 and wireline port 64. Inaddition, RF IC 70 includes a transceiver 73 with RF and basebandmodules for formatting and modulating data and voice signals into RFreal-time data 26 and non-real-time data 24 and transmitting this datavia optional off-chip power amplifier modules 80 and 82 and antennainterfaces 72 and 74 coupled to corresponding antennas, and forreceiving RF data and RF voice signals via these antennas. A particularstructure is shown that operates in two different frequency bands viaseparate optional power amplifier modules (80, 82), antenna interfaces(72, 74) and antennas, however one more shared multi-band components canlikewise be employed.

Further, RF IC 70 includes an input/output module 71 with appropriateencoders and decoders for communicating via the wireline connection 28via wireline port 64, an optional memory interface for communicatingwith off-chip memory 54, a codec for encoding voice signals frommicrophone 60 into digital voice signals, a keypad/keyboard interfacefor generating data from keypad/keyboard 58 in response to the actionsof a user, a display driver for driving display 56, such as by renderinga color video signal, text, graphics, or other display data, and anaudio driver such as an audio amplifier for driving speaker 62 and oneor more other interfaces, such as for interfacing with the camera 76 orthe other peripheral devices.

Off-chip power management circuit 95 includes one or more DC-DCconverters, voltage regulators, current regulators or other powersupplies for supplying the RF IC 70 and optionally the other componentsof mobile communication device 35 and/or its peripheral devices withsupply voltages and or currents (collectively power supply signals) thatmay be required to power these devices. Off-chip power managementcircuit 95 can operate from one or more batteries, line power and/orfrom other power sources, not shown. In particular, off-chip powermanagement module can selectively supply power supply signals ofdifferent voltages, currents or current limits or with adjustablevoltages, currents or current limits in response to power mode signalsreceived from the voice data RF IC 70. RF IC 70 optionally includes anon-chip power management circuit 95′ for replacing the off-chip powermanagement circuit 95.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the RF IC 70 is a system on achip integrated circuit that includes at least one processing device.Such a processing device, for instance, processing module 225, may be amicroprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor,microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array,programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals(analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Theassociated memory may be a single memory device or a plurality of memorydevices that are either on-chip or off-chip such as memory 54. Such amemory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flashmemory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note thatwhen the RF IC 70 implements one or more of its functions via a statemachine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry,the associated memory storing the corresponding operational instructionsfor this circuitry is embedded with the circuitry comprising the statemachine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

In operation, the RF IC 70 executes operational instructions thatimplement one or more of the applications (real-time or non-real-time)attributed to communication devices 10 as discussed in conjunction withFIG. 1. Further, transceiver 73 includes a transmitter module inaccordance with the present invention as will be described inconjunction with FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RFtransceiver in accordance with the present invention. In particular,transceiver 73 of RF IC 70 is shown along with other external componentsof mobile communication device 35 including antenna interfaces (72, 74)and antennas (171, 171′) and optional power amplifier modules (80, 82).Inbound RF signals 152 are received via the antenna 171 and antennainterface 72 to produce received signal 153. In turn, receiver 127generates inbound data 160 for processing in accordance with one or moreapplications of mobile communications of device 35. In addition, inbounddata 160 can also be generated by receiver 127′ based on receivedsignals 153′ produced from inbound RF signal 152′ via antenna 171′ andantenna interface 74.

Transmitter module 129 responds to outbound data 162 to generate thetransmit signal 155 in a first frequency band in a first mode ofoperation. In a second mode of operation, transmitter module 129generates the transmit signal 155′ in a second frequency band. Asdiscussed in conjunction with FIG. 1, the first and second frequencybands can be chosen from the 750, 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz bands orother frequency bands corresponding to other frequencies and selected inresponse to control signal 147. Further, in response to control signal147, the transmitter module 129 generates the transmit signal 155 and/or155′ in a selected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats,such as WCDMA or one or more other CDMA formats, GSM, EDGE, universalmobile telecommunication system (UMTS), high-speed packet access (HSPA)and/or other wireless telephony formats (either CDMA or non-CDMA). In anembodiment of the present invention, control signal 147 is generated bya processor such as processor 225 of RF IC 70 in accordance with awireless telephony application. However, control signal 147 canoptionally be generated by other elements of mobile communication device35.

The RF IC 70 includes an IC port 180 for coupling a transmit signal 155in a first frequency band to optional power amplifier module 80, antennainterface 72 and antenna 171 that are external to the RF IC 70.Similarly, IC port 182 couples transmit signal 155′ in a secondfrequency band to optional power amplifier module 82, antenna interface74 and antenna 171′. The IC ports 180 and 182 can be input/output (I/O)pins, pads or other ports for connecting the RF IC 70 to externaldevices, via a circuit board, socket or other connection. It should benoted that the flexible multi-format configuration of transmitter module129 allows RF IC 70 to couple to the optional power amplifiers (80, 82)and external antenna structure with only two ports, saving additionalports of the RF IC 70 for other I/O.

The optional power amplifier module 80 amplifies the transmit signal 155to ultimately produce outbound RF signal 170 via antenna interface 72.The antenna 171 transmits the outbound RF signals 170 to a targeteddevice such as a base station, an access point and/or another wirelesscommunication device. Similarly, the optional power amplifier module 82amplifies the transmit signal 155′ to ultimately produce outbound RFsignal 170′ via antenna interface 74. The antenna 171′ transmits theoutbound RF signals 170′ to a targeted device such as a base station, anaccess point and/or another wireless communication device.

Antenna interfaces 72 and 74 can each include a transmit/receive switch,a duplexer/diplexer, an impedance matching network and/or a filter.Further, while antennas 171 and 171′ are shown as single sharedantennas, the receivers 127 and 127′ may each employ separate antennasor share a multiple antenna structure that includes two or moreantennas. In another embodiment, the receiver 127, 127′ and/ortransmitter module 129 may share a multiple input multiple output (MIMO)antenna structure that includes a plurality of antennas. Each antennamay be fixed, programmable, an antenna array or other antennaconfiguration.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an RFtransceiver in accordance with the present invention. In particular, anembodiment is shown that operates similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 3with similar elements being referred to by common reference numerals. Inthis embodiment however, transceiver 173 is itself a stand alone RF ICthat includes receivers 127 and 127′ and transmitter module 129.Transceiver 173 can perform all of the functions transceiver 73discussed in conjunction with RF IC 70, but be included in a separate RFIC.

The transceiver 173 includes an IC port 184 for coupling a transmitsignal 155 in a first frequency band to optional power amplifier module80, antenna interface 72 and antenna 171 that are external to thetransceiver 173. Similarly, IC port 186 couples transmit signal 155′ ina second frequency band to optional power amplifier module 82, antennainterface 74 and antenna 171′. The IC ports 184 and 186 can beinput/output (I/O) pins, pads or other ports for connecting thetransceiver 173 to external devices, via a circuit board, socket orother connection. It should be noted that the flexible multi-formatconfiguration of transmitter module 129 allows transceiver 173 to coupleto the optional power amplifiers (80, 82) and external antenna structurewith only two ports, saving additional ports of the transceiver 173 forother I/O.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an RFtransceiver in accordance with the present invention. In particular, anembodiment is shown that operates similarly to the embodiments of FIGS.3-4 with similar elements being referred to by common referencenumerals. In this embodiment however, transmitter module 129 is itself astand alone RF IC.

The transmitter module 129 includes an IC port 188 for coupling atransmit signal 155 in a first frequency band to optional poweramplifier module 80, antenna interface 72 and antenna 171 that areexternal to the transmitter module 129. Similarly, IC port 190 couplestransmit signal 155′ in a second frequency band to optional poweramplifier module 82, antenna interface 74 and antenna 171′. The IC ports188 and 190 can be input/output (I/O) pins, pads or other ports forconnecting the transmitter module 129 to external devices, via a circuitboard, socket or other connection. It should be noted that the flexiblemulti-format configuration allows transmitter module 129 to couple tothe optional power amplifiers (80, 82) and external antenna structurewith only two ports, saving additional ports of the transmitter module129 for other I/O.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RFtransmitter in accordance with the present invention. Transmitter module129 includes transmitter processing module 146, digital to analogconverter (DAC) module 200, mixer modules 210 and 220, driver modules214 and 224, divider module 234 and phase-locked loop (PLL) module 230.The transmitter processing module 146, DAC module 200, Mixer modules 210and 220 and driver modules 214 and 224 are each capable of operating ina mixed signal environment with in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q)components.

In operation, transmitter processing module 146, generates basebanddata, such as baseband I & Q data 148 and/or phase data 232 in responseto the outbound data 162. In particular, transmitter processing module146 responds to a format selection indicated by the control signal 147to generate baseband data in accordance with the particular wirelesstelephony format selected (e.g., WCDMA, GSM, EDGE, etc.). Whiledescribed as “baseband”, this baseband data can be either at truebaseband (zero intermediate frequency (IF)) or at some low IF, such afew MHz or less.

Note that the processing performed by the transmitter processing module146 can include, but is not limited to, scrambling, encoding,puncturing, mapping, modulation, and/or digital baseband to IFconversion. Further note that the transmitter processing module 146 maybe implemented using a shared processing device, individual processingdevices, or a plurality of processing devices and may further includememory. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor,micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, centralprocessing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logicdevice, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/ordigital) based on operational instructions. The memory may be a singlememory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device maybe a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory,non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/orany device that stores digital information. Note that when theprocessing module 146 implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructionsis embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

The digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) module 200 can include a digitalto analog converter, a filter, such as a smoothing filter and/or gainmodule. The DAC module 200 converts the baseband I & Q signals 148 fromthe digital domain to the analog domain. The filter and/or gain modulefilters and/or adjusts the gain of the analog signals to producebaseband I & Q signals 202, that are provided to the mixer modules 210and 220 for up-conversion to RF.

Phase-locked loop (PLL) module 230 generates a PLL signal 240 based on areference oscillation 164 from a crystal, digital RF synthesizer orother frequency reference generation device and based on a particularcarrier frequency 242 selected by transmitter processing model 146 inaccordance with the particular wireless telephony format that has beenselected. Divider module 234 produces two local oscillation signals, RFoscillation 236 and RF oscillation 238 for use by mixer modules 210 and220 in upconverting the baseband I & Q signals 202 to their requiredcarrier frequencies. In addition transmitter. Divider module 234 caninclude one or more simple dividers, or fractional dividers forproducing the necessary local oscillation frequencies to track thedesired carrier frequencies of the transmit signals 155 and 155′, basedon any IF frequency employed as discussed above in conjunction withtransmitter processing module 146.

Mixer module 210 converts the baseband I & Q signals 202 into RF I & Qsignals 212 based on the RF oscillation 236. Mixer module 220 convertsthe baseband I & Q signals 202 into RF I & Q signals 222 based on the RFoscillation 238. An example implementation of a mixer module ispresented in conjunction with FIG. 7 that follows.

Driver modules 214 and 224 include can pre-amplifiers for producingtransmit signals 155 and 155′ that driver optional off-chip poweramplifier modules 80 and 82. Alternatively driver modules 214 and 224further include their own on-chip power amplifiers in place of theoptional off-chip power amplifiers 80 and 82. The pre-amplifier and/orpower amplifier can include a polar amplification stage capable ofamplitude modulating a phase modulated input signal , based on AM signal244, to produce an amplitude and phase modulated signal. Driver modules214 and 224 can optionally include a transmit filter module forattenuating unwanted spurs and harmonics.

Depending on the selected wireless telephony format, the transmitterprocessing module 146 can generate the baseband data as I and Q data148, used in the I and Q path formed by DAC module 200, mixer modules210 and 220 and driver module 214 and 224 to generate amplitude andphase modulated transmit signals 155 and 155′. Alternatively,transmitter processing module 146 can generate all or a portion of thebaseband data as phase data 232 for directly phase modulating the PLLsignal 240 that produces the RF oscillations 236 and 238, to generateamplitude and phase modulated transmit signals 155 and 155′.

For example, when a WCDMA format is selected, transmitter processingmodule 146 can generate baseband I and Q data 148 and transmitter module129 can operate using the I and Q path formed by DAC module 200, mixermodules 210 and 220 and driver module 214 and 224 to generate amplitudeand phase modulated transmit signals 155 and 155′. If an EDGE format isselected, transmitter processing module 146 can either generate basebandI and Q data 148 and transmitter module 129 can operate using the I andQ path formed by DAC module 200, mixer modules 210 and 220 and drivermodule 214 and 224 to generate amplitude and phase modulated transmitsignals 155 and 155′, or, in EDGE format operation, an AM signal will betransmitted instead of the in-phase signals. In the latter case,transmitter processing module 146 will generate phase data 232 that isused by PLL module 230 to generate a phase modulated PLL signal 240. Inparticular, baseband I and Q data 202 can include AM data and baseband Iand Q signals can include AM signals 244 that can be passed to mixermodules 210 and 220 to produce a polar transmission. The driver modules214 and 224 will further amplify the signal.

Further, if a GSM format is selected, transmitter processing module 146can generate phase data 232 that is used by PLL module 230 to generate aphase modulated PLL signal 240. The mixer modules 210, 220 and drivermodules 214 and 224 can be operated in saturation to directly couple andamplify these phase modulated signals to produce transmit signals 155and/or 155′ at their respective frequencies. By using common transmitterelements in processing selected formats, redundant components can beeliminated and integrated circuit real estate can be reduced.

While specific wireless telephony formats are discussed above, otherwireless telephony formats can similarly be implemented using thetransmitter processing module 129 described above. In addition, whiletwo RF paths are shown for producing transit signals 155 and 155′,additional RF paths can be included for use in conjunction withadditional frequency bands.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a mixer modulein accordance with the present invention. In particular, mixer module300 include a pair of mixer/programmable gain amplifiers 304 and a phaseshift network 306 that produces a 90-degree phase shift that operate tomix the baseband I and Q signals (312, 314) (such as baseband I and Qsignals 202) with the RF oscillation 310 to produce RF I and Q signals(322, 324) (such as RF I and Q signals 212). For certain selectedformats, such as the GSM format example described in conjunction withFIG. 6, the Mixer/PGAs 304 can be operated in saturation to directlypass an RF oscillation 310 that has already been phase modulated. Inaddition, when baseband I signal 312 includes an AM signal 244 for polartransmission, such as in the EDGE example discussed in conjunction withFIG. 6, the AM signal 244 is passed to mixer and a power amplifier orpre-power amplifier, such as driver module 214 and/or 224 discussed inconjunction with FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance withthe present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use inconjunction with one or more of the functions and features described inconjunction with FIGS. 1-7. In step 400, a first transmit signal in afirst frequency band is coupled to at least one external device via afirst IC port. In step 402, a second transmit signal in a secondfrequency band is coupled to the at least one external device via asecond IC port. In step 404, the first transmit signal is generatedbased on outbound data in a first mode of operation, wherein the firsttransmit signal is generated in a selected one of a plurality ofwireless telephony formats based on a control signal. In step 406, thesecond transmit signal is generated based on the outbound data in asecond mode of operation, wherein the second transmit signal isgenerated in the selected one of the plurality of wireless telephonyformats based on the control signal and wherein the plurality ofwireless telephony formats includes a code divisional multiple accessformat and at least one non-code division multiple access format.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the code divisional multipleaccess format includes a wideband code divisional multiple accessformat. The non-code divisional multiple access format can includes aGSM Association format, such as a GSM or EDGE format. The plurality ofwireless telephony formats can include three or more wireless telephonyformats.

In an embodiment of the present invention, step 404 includes: generatingbaseband data in response to the outbound data and based on the controlsignal; generating at least one baseband signal in response to thebaseband data; generating at least one first RF signal based on the atleast one baseband signal and a first RF oscillation; and generating thefirst transmit signal, based on the first RF signal. Step 408 caninclude: generating at least one second RF signal based on the at leastone baseband signal and a second RF oscillation; and generating thesecond transmit signal, based on the second RF signal, wherein when thecode division multiple access format is selected, the baseband dataincludes in-phase and quadrature-phase data, the at least one basebandsignal includes in-phase and quadrature-phase signals, and the at leastone first RF signal includes in-phase and quadrature-phase first RFsignals, and wherein the at least one second RF signal includes in-phaseand quadrature-phase second RF signals.

Step 406 can further include: generating a phase locked loop (PLL)signal based on a reference oscillation; and generating the first RFoscillation based on the PLL signal. Step 406 can further includegenerating the second RF oscillation based on the PLL signal.

When the GSM format is selected, the baseband data can include phasedata, and the PLL signal can be phase modulated based on the phase data.When the EDGE format is selected, the baseband data can either includein-phase and quadrature-phase data, or the baseband data can includeamplitude modulation (AM) data and phase modulated (PM) data, the atleast one baseband signal includes an AM signal, the PLL signal can bephase modulated based on the phase data, and the at least one first RFsignal can be amplitude modulated based on the AM signal, and the atleast one second RF signal can be amplitude modulated based on the AMsignal.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” and/or includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, theintervening item does not modify the information of a signal but mayadjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As mayfurther be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element iscoupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirectcoupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As mayeven further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that anitem includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s),etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may furtherinclude inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may stillfurther be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes directand/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “comparesfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items,signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when thedesired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude thansignal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude ofsignal 2 is less than that of signal 1. While the term phase modulationis used herein it includes the equivalent frequency modulation.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that thefunctional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules andcomponents herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discretecomponents, application specific integrated circuits, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

1. An RF integrated circuit (IC) comprising: a first IC port forcoupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency band to at leastone external device; a second IC port for coupling a second transmitsignal in a second frequency band to the at least one external device;and a transmitter module, coupled to the first IC port and the second ICport, that responds to outbound data to generate the first transmitsignal in a first mode of operation and to generate the second transmitsignal in a second mode of operation, wherein the transmitter modulegenerates the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal in aselected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats based on acontrol signal, and wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formatsincludes a global system for mobile communication (GSM) format and atleast one non-GSM format.
 2. The RF IC of claim 1 wherein the non-GSMformat includes a universal mobile telecommunication system format. 3.The RF IC of claim 1 wherein the non-GSM format includes a high-speedpacket access format.
 4. The RF IC of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofwireless telephony formats includes at least three wireless telephonyformats.
 5. The RF IC of claim 1 wherein the transmitter moduleincludes: a transmitter processing module that generates baseband datain response to the outbound data and based on the control signal; adigital to analog converter module, coupled to the transmitterprocessing module, that generates at least one baseband signal inresponse to the baseband data; at first mixer module, coupled to thedigital to analog converter module, that generates at least one first RFsignal based on the at least one baseband signal and a first RFoscillation; a second mixer module, coupled to the digital to analogconverter module, that generates at least one second RF signal based onthe at least one baseband signal and a second RF oscillation; a firstdriver module, coupled to the first mixer module, that generates thefirst transmit signal, based on the first RF signal; and a second driveramplifier module, coupled to the second mixer module, that generates thesecond transmit signal, based on the second RF signal; wherein when atleast one of the plurality of wireless telephony formats is selected,the baseband data includes in-phase and quadrature-phase data, the atleast one baseband signal includes in-phase and quadrature-phasesignals, and the at least one first RF signal includes in-phase andquadrature-phase first RF signals, and wherein the at least one secondRF signal includes in-phase and quadrature-phase second RF signals. 6.The RF IC of claim 5 wherein the transmitter module further includes: aphase locked loop (PLL) module that generates a PLL signal based on areference oscillation; and a divider module, coupled to the PLL module,that generates the first RF oscillation and the second RF oscillationbased on the PLL signal.
 7. The RF IC of claim 6 wherein, when the GSMformat is selected, the baseband data includes phase data, and whereinthe PLL signal is phase modulated based on the phase data.
 8. The RF ICof claim 5 wherein the GSM format includes an enhanced data rates forGSM evolution (EDGE) format, wherein, when the EDGE format is selected,the baseband data includes amplitude modulation (AM) data, the at leastone baseband signal includes an AM signal, wherein the first drivermodule includes at least one first polar amplifier for generating anamplitude modulation on the at least one first RF signal, based on theAM signal; and wherein the second driver module includes at least onepolar amplifier for generating an amplitude modulation on the at leastone second RF signal, based on the AM signal.
 9. The RF IC of claim 5wherein the first driver module includes at least one of: a firstpre-power amplifier and a first power amplifier, and wherein the seconddriver module includes at least one of: a first pre-power amplifier anda second power amplifier.
 10. The RF IC of claim 1 wherein the first ICport includes one of: a first IC pin and a first IC pad, and wherein thesecond IC port includes one of: a second IC pin and a second IC pad. 11.A method for use in an RF integrated circuit (IC), the methodcomprising: coupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency bandto at least one external device via a first IC port; coupling a secondtransmit signal in a second frequency band to the at least one externaldevice via a second IC port; generating the first transmit signal basedon outbound data in a first mode of operation, wherein the firsttransmit signal is generated in a selected one of a plurality ofwireless telephony formats based on a control signal; and generating thesecond transmit signal based on the outbound data in a second mode ofoperation, wherein the second transmit signal is generated in theselected one of the plurality of wireless telephony formats based on thecontrol signal; wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formatsincludes a global system for mobile communications (GSM) format and atleast one non-GSM format.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-GSMformat includes a universal mobile telecommunication system format. 13.The method of claim 11 wherein the non-GSM format includes a high-speedpacket access format.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the pluralityof wireless telephony formats includes at least three wireless telephonyformats.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the generating the firsttransmit signal includes: generating baseband data in response to theoutbound data and based on the control signal; generating at least onebaseband signal in response to the baseband data; generating at leastone first RF signal based on the at least one baseband signal and afirst RF oscillation; and generating the first transmit signal, based onthe first RF signal; wherein generating the second transmit signalincludes: generating at least one second RF signal based on the at leastone baseband signal and a second RF oscillation; and generating thesecond transmit signal, based on the second RF signal; and wherein whenat least one of the plurality of wireless telephony formats is selected,the baseband data includes in-phase and quadrature-phase data, the atleast one baseband signal includes in-phase and quadrature-phasesignals, and the at least one first RF signal includes in-phase andquadrature-phase first RF signals, and wherein the at least one secondRF signal includes in-phase and quadrature-phase second RF signals. 16.The method of claim 15 wherein generating the first transmit signalfurther includes: generating a phase locked loop (PLL) signal based on areference oscillation; and generating the first RF oscillation based onthe PLL signal; and wherein generating the second transmit signalfurther includes: generating the second RF oscillation based on the PLLsignal.
 17. The method of claim 16 when the GSM format is selected, thebaseband data includes phase data, and wherein the PLL signal is phasemodulated based on the phase data.
 18. The method of claim 15 whereinthe GSM format includes an enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE)format, wherein, when the EDGE format is selected, the baseband dataincludes amplitude modulation (AM) data, the at least one basebandsignal includes an AM signal, wherein the at least one first RF signalis amplitude modulated, based on the AM signal; and wherein the at leastone second RF signal is amplitude modulated, based on the AM signal.